Brian Rosener is the keeper of the Semoball Cup which is presented to the school with the most successful season. It is based on a formula that takes into account the combined winning percentage of all sports teams plus bonus points for advancement in postseason play for both teams and individuals. The bonus points are divided by the number of teams a school fields. Rosener has been the sports editor for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff, Mo. since December 2001. He was born and raised in St. Louis, where he attended Lindbergh High School and Webster University. He is married to Jennifer, a Poplar Bluff native, has a son Jack and a dog named Satchel who stands in for his @semoballBrian photo.

Battle of Butler County

Posted Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 3:46 PM

It may not have the same buzz as a matchup between Scott Central-Sikeston, but Poplar Bluff and Twin Rivers do play an annual bragging rights game. The latest edition is Friday night in Broseley.

The Royals won last year on Kenny Johnson's runner in the closing seconds, 71-70, ending Poplar Bluff's 10-year run.

The last time Twin Rivers won consecutive games was 1991-92. The Royals won the 1991 game by 10 then got a 3-pointer by Matt Thurman at the buzzer to win at Peters Gym in 1992. Thurman's nephew is currently a senior, Kyle Oberkramer.

In the last 29 years, the Mules have won 20 times but 15 of those games were decided by single digits.

At times the game was played at the very beginning of the season and at the very end. During two years when the Mules made their state title runs (2005-06) the game was moved to the Black River Coliseum.

At the time I wrote a column saying the game should stay there and the game should be known as the Battle at Black River, since the river separates the two schools and, by the way, Neelyville is also in Butler County (not to mention part of the East Carter, Greenville, Doniphan and Naylor school districts.

Battle of Butler County

Here's the recent history of the series, which started when Twin Rivers was formed in the late 1960s.

Year… winner, score (spread) place

2008… TR, 71-70 (1) at PB

2007… PB, 54-46 (9) at TR

2006… PB, 65-60 (5) at Black River

2005… PB, 57-42 (15) at Black River

2004… PB, 75-59 (16) at PB

2003… PB, 44-42 (2) at TR

2002… PB, 74-63 (11)

2001… PB, 72-68 (4)

2000… PB, 61-58 (3)

1999… PB, 59-40 (19)

1998… PB, 79-75 OT (4)

1997… TR, 93-88 (5)

1996… PB, 83-65 (18)

1995… TR, 78-70 (8)

1994… PB, 83-53 (30)

1993… PB, 92-67 (25)

1992… TR, 53-52 (1)

1991… TR, 57-47 (10)

1990… PB, 56-55 (1)

1989… PB, 102-47 (55)

1988… TR, 71-67 (4)

1987… TR, 59-58 OT (1)

1986… TR, 60-56 (4)

1985… TR, 51-38 (13)

1984… PB, 70-60 (10)

1983… PB, 56-43 (13)

1982… PB, 79-38 (41)

1981… PB, 75-36 (39)

1980… PB, 52-48 (4)

1979… PB, 85-67 (18)

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I like Poplar Bluff in this years match.The direction the mules are headed in looks bright.They've always been very good in hoops.

-- Posted by DonaldTrump on Fri, Jan 16, 2009, at 11:15 AM
Brian Rosepedals

-- Posted by Chief 'Broom on Fri, Jan 16, 2009, at 6:02 PM

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